John Hammond

John L. Hammond teaches sociology at Hunter College and the Graduate Center. He is a specialist in social movements and has done research on social movements in Latin America (mainly), Europe, and the United States. His current research is focused on Occupy Wall Street (especially in relation to the mainstream media and the media created by the movement itself) and social inequality in Latin America.

Jack is a member of the Hunter College Human Rights Program of which he was a founder and former director. He is also former chair of the Human Rights and Academic Freedom Task Force of the Latin American Studies Association.

After completing his B.A. and before entering graduate school he served two years in the Peace Corps in Peru. He believes strongly that students should take time off from school after college to work in the US or abroad, in work that may or may not be relevant to their future careers.

At Hunter Jack teaches courses in American Society, Work and Society, War and Society, Development and Globalization, and Human Rights. He also teaches at the Graduate Center.

Many of his courses are writing-intensive courses. Students in his classes perform a variety of exercises intended to help them with the writing process by focusing on meaning and communication. He enjoys playing simulation (role-playing) games in his classes to incorporate experiential learning. Some examples appear below.

Simulation Games

Race to the Bottom A simulation of capital mobility and neoliberal restructuring in the third world

A Personal Note

I have a physical disability. My right ear is extremely sensitive to noise: loud noise most of all, but also noise coming steadily from my right side. When talking to me, please keep to my left. I sometimes do strange-looking things, like facing sideways to avoid noise, or covering my right ear. Listening is hard in a room with noise coming from several directions, so I ask that you not ask me questions right after class. Come to see me in my office. (I am not hard of hearing. Talking louder may make it worse.) Thanks for your consideration.